Prediction of Historical, Current, and Future Configuration of Tibetan Medicinal Herb Gymnadenia orchidis Based on the Optimized MaxEnt in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Climate change plays a pivotal role in shaping the shifting patterns of plant distribution, and gaining insights into how medicinal plants in the plateau region adapt to climate change will be instrumental in safeguarding the rich biodiversity of the highlands. Gymnosia orchidis Lindl. (G. orchidis) is a valuable Tibetan medicinal resource with significant medicinal, ecological, and economic value. However, the growth of G. orchidis is severely constrained by stringent natural conditions, leading to a drastic decline in its resources. Therefore, it is crucial to study the suitable habitat areas of G. orchidis to facilitate future artificial cultivation and maintain ecological balance. In this study, we investigated the suitable zones of G. orchidis based on 79 occurrence points in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and 23 major environmental variables, including climate, topography, and soil type. We employed the Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt) to simulate and predict the spatial distribution and configuration changes in G. orchidis during different time periods, including the last interglacial (LIG), the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Mid-Holocene (MH), the present, and future scenarios (2041-2060 and 2061-2080) under three different climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585). Our results indicated that annual precipitation (Bio12, 613-2466 mm) and mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio11, -5.8-8.5 °C) were the primary factors influencing the suitable habitat of G. orchidis, with a cumulative contribution of 78.5%. The precipitation and temperature during the driest season had the most significant overall impact. Under current climate conditions, the suitable areas of G. orchidis covered approximately 63.72 × 104/km2, encompassing Yunnan, Gansu, Sichuan, and parts of Xizang provinces, with the highest suitability observed in the Hengduan, Yunlin, and Himalayan mountain regions. In the past, the suitable area of G. orchidis experienced significant changes during the Mid-Holocene, including variations in the total area and centroid migration direction. In future scenarios, the suitable habitat of G. orchidis is projected to expand significantly under SSP370 (30.33-46.19%), followed by SSP585 (1.41-22.3%), while contraction is expected under SSP126. Moreover, the centroids of suitable areas exhibited multidirectional movement, with the most extensive displacement observed under SSP585 (100.38 km2). This study provides a theoretical foundation for the conservation of biodiversity and endangered medicinal plants in the QTP.

Association between dietary vitamin C and abdominal aortic calcification among the US adults.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality, and vascular calcification has been highly correlated with CVD events. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been shown to predict subclinical CVD and incident CVD events. However, the relationship between vitamin C and abdominal aortic calcification remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of dietary vitamin C with AAC among the adult population in the US. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 provided the data for the cross-sectional study. 2297 subjects (1089 males) were included in the study. Two scoring systems, AAC 24-point scale (Kauppila) and AAC 8-point scale (Schousboe), were used for the measurement of AAC score. Dietary vitamin C intake was calculated as the average of two rounds of 24-h interview recall data and classified in tertiles for analysis. We applied weighted multiple regression analyses to assess the relationship of dietary vitamin C with AAC score and the risk of having AAC. To ensure the robustness of the findings, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Additionally, smooth curve fittings, using generalized additive models (GAM) were employed to visualize potential nonlinear relationships. Furthermore, an exploratory analysis on the relationship of vitamin C supplements with AAC was also conducted. RESULTS: The results showed that higher dietary vitamin C intake was related to a reduction in AAC score (AAC-24: ß = -0.338, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.565, -0.111, P = 0.004; AAC-8: ß = -0.132, 95%CI -0.217, -0.047, P = 0.002), and lower risk of AAC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.807, 95%CI 0.659, 0.989, P = 0.038). However, the relationship of vitamin C supplements with AAC was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that higher intake of dietary vitamin C rather than vitamin C supplements was related to reduced AAC score and lower risk of AAC, indicating that diets rich in vitamin C are recommended due to its potential benefits for protecting against vascular calcification and CVD among the adult population in the US.

Dietary supplementation with garcinol during late gestation alleviates disorders of bile acid metabolism and improves the performance of sows and newborn piglets.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary garcinol supplementation during late gestation on bile acid metabolism and performance of sows. Sixty sows (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace; second- or third-parity; n = 20) with disorder of bile acid metabolism were randomly divided into three groups: control diet (CON; basal diet), basal diet with 200 mg garcinol (Low Gar), and basal diet with 600 mg garcinol (High Gar) per kg of feed. The body weight (BW); backfat thickness and litter size of the sows; and birth weight, weaning weight, and mortality of piglets were recorded. Sows' blood was collected for the measurements of hematological parameters and antioxidative and immune indexes, and indicators related to bile acid metabolism, respectively. The colostrum and fecal samples of the sows were also collected for analysis of colostrum composition and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. Garcinol had no effect on the BW and backfat thickness of the sows but significantly decreased the mortality and number of weak litter (P < 0.05). Moreover, the white blood cell counts, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activity in the plasma of the sows were increased more significantly (P < 0.05) in the garcinol groups than that in the CON group, whereas the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with garcinol significantly reduced TBA concentrations (P < 0.05). The content of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the plasma and in colostrum of sows were increased more significantly (P < 0.05) in the garcinol groups than that in the CON group. In addition, dry matter (DM), Ash, and EE in the colostrum were similar between groups (P > 0.05), whereas the garcinol significantly increased the crude protein (CP) in the colostrum. The apparent total tract nutrient digestibility was similar between treatments. Garcinol treatment induced a gradually decreased (P > 0.05) the expression of genes involved in BA synthesis (CYP7A1, CYP8B1), BA uptake (NTCP, OATP1A2), BA secretion (BSEP and MRP2), BA detoxification (SULT2A1), and BA efflux into the blood circulation (OSTß). Collectively, this study indicates that sows fed with garcinol in late gestation showed relieved bile acid metabolism disorder and improved sows performance, antioxidative status, colostrum protein content, showing promise in natural plant extract nutrition for sows with disorder of bile acid metabolism.

The elevated maternal serum bile acid (BA) levels in late gestation leads to accumulation of BA in fetal tissues, and thus increases the risk of fetal mortality and metabolic disease of offspring. It has confirmed that BA disordered and oxidative damage are intimately related. Thus, studies about alleviating oxidative stress and facilitating BA metabolism in pregnant sows can be relevant. As an excellent antioxidative plant extract, garcinol has been widely used in dietary supplementation of rodents; however, the effect of dietary supplementation with garcinol on the bile acids disorders of sows in late gestation has rarely been reported. The present study provides the first evidence that dietary supplementation with garcinol during late gestation improved maternal BA metabolism of sows with disorder of BA metabolism, as well as the health and antioxidative status, colostrum protein content, showing promise in natural plant extract nutrition for sows with disorder of bile acid metabolism.

Dietary embelin supplementation during mid-to-late gestation improves performance and maternal-fetal glucose metabolism of pigs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary embelin supplementation during late gestation (from days 60 to 110) on performance and maternal-fetal glucose metabolism of pigs. Sixty sows (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace; parity = 1.68 ±â€…0.03; N = 20) were randomly divided into three gestation (day 60 of pregnancy) treatments, Control pigs (CON) were fed a basal diet, and the other animals were fed a basal diet supplemented with 200 or 600 mg/kg embelin per kg of feed. The body weight, backfat thickness and litter size of the sows, and birth weight and mortality of piglets were recorded. Sows' blood and piglets' umbilical cord blood were collected for the measurements of hematological parameters and anti-oxidative and immune indexes, and maternal-fetal glucose metabolism parameters, respectively. The colostrum and milk and fecal samples of the sows were also collected for analysis of milk composition and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. Dietary embelin had no effect on the BW and backfat thickness of the sows but significantly increased the birth weight of piglets (P < 0.05) and decreased the mortality (P < 0.05). Moreover, the white blood cell counts (day 90), neutrophil count and mean cell hemoglobin (day 110), total anti-oxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) content of the sows were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the embelin groups than that in the CON group, whereas the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased (P < 0.05). Embelin significantly increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) content in plasma of piglets as well as those in colostrum and milk of sows than the CON treatment (P < 0.05). In addition, dry matter, ash, and ether extract in the colostrum were similar between groups (P > 0.05), whereas the embelin significantly increased the crude protein in the milk. The apparent total tract nutrient digestibility was similar between treatments (P > 0.05). The embelin treatment significantly increased the glucose levels and lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) activity in sows plasma, and decreased the lactate levels in both sows and fetuses plasma (P < 0.05). Collectively, this study indicates that sows fed with embelin in mid-to-late gestation showed improved maternal health and anti-oxidative status, milk protein content, and maternal-fetal glucose metabolism, showing promise in natural plant extract nutrition for sows.

Abnormal glucose metabolism in sows in late gestation can lead to incapacity of sow production, and even reproductive disorders. It has been confirmed that inefficient glucose utilization and oxidative damage are intimately related. Thus, studies about alleviating oxidative stress and facilitating glucose metabolism in pregnant sows can be relevant. As an excellent anti-oxidative plant extract, embelin has been widely used in dietary supplementation of rodents, however, the effect of dietary supplementation with embelin on the performance of sows and newborn piglets, as well as on the glucose metabolism has rarely been reported. The present study provides the first evidence that dietary supplementation with embelin during mid-to-late gestation improved maternal immune and oxidative status, the milk quality as well as the glucose metabolism of both sows and piglets, suggesting that embelin may be a promising natural plant extractive of nutrition for sows especially during mid-to-late pregnancy and lactation.

The effect of dietary garcinol supplementation on oxidative stability, muscle postmortem glycolysis and meat quality in pigs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary garcinol (0, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) on the growth performance, meat quality, postmortem glycolysis and antioxidative capacity of finishing pigs. Dietary garcinol increased pigs' average daily gain, pH 24h, a* and myoglobin content of longissimus dorsi (LM) (P < 0.05), and decreased feed/gain ratio, the L*24h, glycolytic potential, drip loss, shear force, and backfat depth (P < 0.05). The glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) were significantly increased by garcinol (P < 0.05), while the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malonaldehyde (MDA) content were decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, garcinol decreased the p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) activity, the acetylation level and activities of glycolysis enzymes phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase-3 (PFKFB3) (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that garcinol decreased postmortem glycolysis, and this may be due to the mechanism of decreasing glycolytic enzyme acetylation induced by PCAF. The present study indicates that garcinol can facilitate the growth performance of pigs and improve pork quality by changing postmortem glycolysis and antioxidative capacity.

Dietary supplementation with garcinol during late gestation and lactation facilitates acid-base balance and improves the performance of sows and newborn piglets1.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary garcinol supplementation during late gestation (from the 90th day of pregnancy; day 90) and lactation on the acid-base balance of the umbilical cord blood and performance of sows and piglets. Sixty sows (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace; second- or third-parity; n = 20) were randomly divided into 3 gestation (day 90 of pregnancy) or lactation treatments, control diet (CON; basal diet), basal diet with 200 mg garcinol, and basal diet with 600 mg garcinol per kg of feed. The body weight (BW); backfat thickness and litter size of the sows; and birth weight, weaning weight, and mortality of piglets were recorded. Sows' blood and piglets' umbilical cord blood were collected for the measurements of hematological parameters and antioxidative and immune indexes, and acid-base balance parameters, respectively. The colostrum and milk and fecal samples of the sows were also collected for analysis of milk composition and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. Garcinol had no effect on the BW and backfat thickness of the sows but significantly increased the birth weight and weaning weight of piglets (P < 0.05) and decreased the mortality (P < 0.05). Moreover, the white blood cell counts and neutrophil count, mean cell hemoglobin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) activity in the plasma of the sows were increased more significantly (P < 0.05) in the garcinol groups than that in the CON group, whereas the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased (P < 0.05). The garcinol treatment significantly increased the pH, HCO3- and base excess values (P < 0.05), whereas it decreased the pCO2 and lactate content (P < 0.05) in the umbilical blood. Dry matter (DM), ash, and ether extract in the colostrum were similar between groups (P > 0.05), whereas the garcinol significantly increased the crude protein (CP) in the milk. In addition, the content of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the plasma of piglets and in colostrum and milk of sows were increased more significantly (P < 0.05) in the garcinol groups than that in the CON group. The apparent total tract nutrient digestibility was similar between treatments. Collectively, this study indicates that sows fed with garcinol in late gestation and lactation showed improved maternal health and antioxidative status, milk protein content, acid-base balance in the umbilical cord blood, and growth performance in piglets, showing promise in natural plant extract nutrition for sows.

Mitochondria-Targeted Polydopamine Nanocomposite with AIE Photosensitizer for Image-Guided Photodynamic and Photothermal Tumor Ablation.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are two kinds of treatment for tumors. Herein, a new aggregation-induced emission (AIE)gen (MeO-TPE-indo, MTi) is synthesized with a D-π-A conjugated structure. MTi, which has an electron donor and an acceptor on a tetraphenylethene (TPE) conjugated skeleton, can induce the effective generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for PDT. With the guide of the indolium group, MTi can target and image mitochondrion selectively. In order to get good dispersion in water and long-time retention in tumors, MTi is modified on the surface of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) to form the nanocomposite (PDA-MeO-TPE-indo, PMTi) by π-π and hydrogen interactions. PMTi is a nanoscale composite for imaging-guided PDT and PTT in tumor treatment, which is constructed with AIEgens and PDA for the first time. The organic functional molecules are combined with nanomaterials for building a multifunctional diagnosis and treatment platform by utilizing the advantages of both sides.